Fox News anchor Bret Baier has admitted to making a significant error during his interview with Vice President Kamala Harris.

The mistake occurred when an incorrect soundbite of former President Donald Trump was played, leading to confusion during a segment about Trump’s controversial comments, and Baier's acknowledgment of the error came the day after the interview during a later broadcast of his show, Special Report, as the Daily Mail reports.

The interview took place on Wednesday in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, where Harris had just concluded an event featuring Republicans endorsing her presidential campaign.

The interview drew massive viewership, with nearly 8 million people tuning in, making it the most-watched segment on Fox News during the 2024 campaign season.

Wrong Soundbite Played During Key Moment

The issue arose during a segment where Baier sought to question Harris about Trump’s remarks regarding internal threats to the country. Baier intended to play a clip from a prior interview with Trump conducted by Maria Bartiromo. In that interview, Trump had referred to certain individuals in the country as the "enemy from within."

Instead, a clip from Harris Faulkner’s town hall with Trump was played. In the aired clip, Trump spoke about the "weaponization of government" and denied that he had made any threats. He described how he had been "investigated more than Alphonse Capone" and expressed frustration with the legal scrutiny he faced.

Kamala Harris Calls Out Error

Vice President Harris was quick to point out that the clip Baier played did not align with Trump’s "enemy from within" remarks. Harris, visibly taken aback, interrupted Baier to clarify the discrepancy.

"Bret, I’m sorry, and with all due respect, that clip was not what he has been saying about the enemy within," Harris said, emphasizing that the soundbite played on air was unrelated to the topic being discussed. Despite Baier’s attempts to defend the choice of clip by suggesting it was relevant to the broader question, Harris persisted, noting that the clip did not reflect Trump’s original "enemy from within" statements.

Baier Defends the Clip, Then Admits Mistake

Initially, Baier stood by the clip, attempting to justify its relevance to the topic. He suggested that Trump’s comments on the "weaponization of government" and his grievances with investigations were connected to the theme of internal threats.

However, by Thursday, Baier had reconsidered his stance. During the next episode of Special Report, he openly acknowledged the mistake. "Harold, I did make a mistake," Baier said, explaining that he had anticipated airing the correct clip from Bartiromo’s interview but inadvertently played the one from Faulkner’s town hall.

Baier Clarifies What Went Wrong

Baier provided further clarification during his Thursday broadcast. "When I called for a soundbite, I was expecting a piece of the 'enemy from within' from Maria Bartiromo’s interview," he explained. Baier went on to say that the error had resulted in an unintended clip being broadcast during the segment.

While the mistake was acknowledged, Baier’s interview with Harris remains notable for its high viewership and the intense scrutiny that followed the segment. Harris’s candid reaction to the incorrect clip and Baier’s subsequent admission sparked widespread conversation across media outlets.

Trump's Comments on Internal Threats

The soundbite that Baier intended to play originally stemmed from an interview in which Trump described certain people in the U.S. as the "enemy from within." Trump elaborated on this by stating, "I think the bigger problem is the enemy from within," referring to "radical left lunatics" whom he viewed as contributing to the country’s challenges.

In contrast, the clip that aired during the interview focused on Trump’s frustrations with investigations targeting him, including the investigations into his conduct that Trump likened to being pursued more than "Alphonse Capone."

Fox News Segment Draws Massive Viewership

Despite the mistake, the interview between Baier and Harris attracted widespread attention.

With nearly 8 million viewers, it became the most-watched segment during the current election cycle on Fox News, underscoring the public’s interest in both Harris’s presidential campaign and Trump’s ongoing legal and political battles.

Conclusion: Admission and Moving Forward

In conclusion, Baier’s interview with Vice President Harris brought in record viewership but also led to a notable on-air mistake.

Baier admitted to playing the wrong clip during a key moment, causing confusion over Trump’s remarks on internal threats.

Harris quickly pointed out the discrepancy, and Baier acknowledged the error during the following day’s broadcast, offering a detailed explanation of what went wrong.

This moment serves as a reminder of the challenges of live television and the impact of media missteps in high-stakes political interviews.